Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-22

ian opera at 81 q seat is present il
spirit watching the play with benign
and sympathetic interest. And il il al
on account Of tho friendship OF Patti
for George Slosson, the Chicago bill
liardist. Everybody knows by Thu
time that the expert is accompanying
the singer to her home in Wales as al
invited guest. A few days more
ond they will be knocking th'
balls around the table in that de.
lightful country, and there will be al
abundance OF csrroms and strictly tech
nical kisses. And when Slosson places
Nicolini's tall hat on the table, and cues
his ball so that it jumps clear over the
hat and collides with the red ball neal
the rail, and then bounding into the
air again makes point on the spot
ball lying on the window-seat in an ad
joining room. PATHS dainty hands will
come together with a resounding spat,
and her wonderful voice will ring out q
merry "Yglnegdebabgej abwgap-punk,
(which is WEIGH for good shot !!
for Patti always speaks the vernaculal
no matter what land she may be in.
Nicolini cannot, and there was where
he was at disadvantage in making the
acquaintance of Slosson. II began in
this city when Patti was singing
her first season here under Alb
bey's management. She and NieO-
lini were quartered at the Windsor,
and the first thing put into their
suite for their especial use was bill
liard-table. The second was a piano.
During the winter several noted bill
liardists were in town, and Nicolini was
a regular spectator at the matches they
played. He wandered one day into the
billiard-room of leading hotel and
found Slosson practicing there. An
introduction was readily arranged, al
though it was necessary to retain the
services of an interpreter. Their con-
versation was Of a rather formal charac-
ter, and consisted mainly i'll the ex-
change of compliments. On the same
day Nicolini sent Slosson a request that
he should give a private exhibition of
his skill at the Windsor. Slosson of
course consented, and the exhibition
took place on an afternoon wits a
week. Nicolini and Patti were the only
spectators. Slosson performed n num-
Der of fancy shots, made long runs
from given positions at straight billiards
and cushion carroms, and talked with
Patti about the game. As Nicolini could
not speak English he had to keep still,
but his fingers were all the time aching
forthe cgS, and eventually, with the as
sistance OF Patti as interpreter, a game
was arranged between the tenor and
the expert. Slosson discounted the
tenor and beat him. The entertain
ment was repeated on several other nf.
ternoons during the season, and once
or twice Dion, who was also in the city,
took part in the exhibitions. How
much Slosson was paid for his services
is not known, but when the singers
reached Chicago he courteously invited
them to private exhibition, and they
saw a good deal of each other. Nicoli
nj and Patti found him a true gentle
man, and the commercial character OF
the private games soon disappeared.
Slosson became afrequent guest their
hotel whenever they were in the city.
He has played many games with Patti
herself, who is very fond of the diver
sion and is fair player.
RETURN OF TIE PURITAN SABBATH.
In their attempts to make New York
a Puritan village the authorities are
straining at gnats and swallowing cam
els. On Sunday two entirely reputable
citizens of New York, both of whom re-
side in the Hotel Brunswick. strolled
up Fifth avenue and back again for a
walk about noon. Neither one of them
was drnnkard, and both have lived in
the hotel for many years. When they
returned they stood near the door for
moment discussing the dust.
1T makes me thirsty" said the first,
wiping the street refuse from his eyes
with the corner OF his handkerchief.
"Would you like something to
drink ?" asked the other.
"Yes; suppose we go in and get
some lemonade"
They entered the hotel and found the
bar-room closed. Two of the bar
tenders had just been arrested and
taken off to prison for serving drinks to
the regular guests of the hotel. The
thirsty men went from the bar-roOm to
the restaurant and ordered the drinks
they had discussed. The waiter
shrugged his shoulders and smiled
mournfully.
at j. not possible" he said, "to
get anything but champagne or lager
beer, and even then you must order
to eat with it..
"Bnt / never drink champagne, and
don't care for lager beer" said one of
the men. Lemonade is certainly
enough of n temperance drink to pass
muster even in this town of queer po-
litical freaks, isn't it ?"
The waiter was very sorry. The
lemonade was regarded as a mixed
drink. There were no bar-tenders, and
the only possible way for the men to
refresh themselves was to order cham
payne or lager beer in conjunction with
the luncheon. They got up in disgust
and went over to the ladies restaurant,
where they were actually obliged to
buy light lunch before they could
get anything to satisfy their thirst.
] doubt if more pronounced alb
surdity could be found in the history
of any city than this. At Delmonico's,
which is unquestionably the most ia
nous restaurant in the world, the pub-
lie at large was refused service. Men
who had been breakfasting at belmont
cos for many years found that they
could not get a glass of wine or any
thing at all but tea and coffee to drink
with their morning meal, and 50 on
throughout the city. AT one place a
young man who was cashier in pool
room where drinks were served was i'm
prisoned for three months. His salary
was $40 week. He was the only sup
port of a widowed mother.
During all the time this hubbub was
going on in the city proper the big
hosiery iii Central Park, which is
owned by the Government, was selling
LIQUOR in every form to boards OF
thirsty New Workers. Why the law
which applied to Delmonico's and the
Brunswick should not reach this official
gin-naill of the city is another of the
inexplicable mysteries of the present
administration Ia New York.
All the lighter forms of amusement,
oh oil